Felt hardening machine



Nov. 4, 1952 H. P. BOEDDINGHAUS ET AL 2,616,154

FELT HARDENING MACHINE 5 Shams-Sheet. 1

Filed Sept. 8. 1950 is Q GMW

INVEN ORS "4& wank/414 NOV- 4, 1952 H. P. BOEDDINGHAUS ET AL 2,616,154

FELT HARDENING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1950 LM, 223w J 1% INVENT I flla m/flh,

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Nov. 4, 1952 H. P. BOEDDINGHAUS ET AL 2,616,154

FELT HARDENING MACHINE Filed Sept. 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 4

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IN VEN T 0R3 Nov. 4, 1952 H. P. BOEDDINGHAUS ET AL 2,616,154

FELT HARDENING MACHINE Filed Sept. 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 2o Fig.8 IIIL )1 P Baal 1mm, 51% 51 fym J. M MA INVENTORS Nov. 4, 1952 H. P. BOEDDINGHAUS ET AL 2,616,154

FELT HARDENING MACHINE Filed Sept. 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 'IIIIIVIIII'Af illllmvln 2m, P Rou h,

62 62 all! J Jaw VENTORS r 64 Patented Nov. 4, 1952 FELT HARDEhT'ING MACHINE Hugo P. Boeddinghaus, Greenwich, Conn, and Bela Freyer, Cornwall-on-Hudson, and Gilbert J. Sanford, Newburgh, N. Y., assignors toAmerican Felt Company, Glenville, Conn; a corporation of Massachusetts Application september 8, 1950, Serial No. 183,835

This invention'relates to improvements in felt roller hardener machines. I

In the process of making felt, the wool or other fibres are carded'and multiples of the resulting webs are combined to form a felt batt. This batt may consist of any desired thickness of carded fibres or webs joined all in the same direction, such as lengthwise of the piece, or in different directions, such as crosswise of and lengthwise of the piece. The resultant batt is a piece of material in which the webs have been joined but which has practically no tensile strength because the fibres comprising the individual webs have not been intermingled and interjoined through felting. The next step in the process of making felt is to cause these fibres to intermingle and interjoin to form a homeogeneous relatively solid and strong piece of material generally termed in the art as a hardened batt or unfulled felt. The process of transforming the relatively flimsy batt into the stronger more densely packed batt is commonly known in the art as hardening and is accomplished by subjecting the batt to pressure, heat and moisture while at the same time applying toit a reciprocating or vibratory motion which may be rotary or may be transverse to the length of the batt.

In commercial practice two types of machines have been employed to perform this hardening of yardage felts.

One type, which may be termed a platen hardener, comprises a bed arranged to support a section of the batt between conveyor aprons and a relatively heavy plate which may be lowered on that section of the batt and pressed down thereupon at the same time moving in a reciprocatory manner either in a direction back and forth across the batt or in a circular motion. While the section of the batt is being subjected to this pressure and reciprocatory motion, it is also subjected to heat and moisture. When one section of the batt has been subjected to this action for a sufficient period of time, the platen is lifted and the batt moved so that an adjacent section is now in place in the machine to undergo this treatment. This continues until the whole length of the batt has been hardened.

A second type of machine known as a roller hardener was introduced into the art many decades ago. Generally in this type of machine the batt is continuously fed between multiple sets of heated rollers and in passing through them is subjected topressure, heat, moisture and a reciprocatory motion.

Despite-the fact that the roller type machine 9 Claims. (01. 28-5) has an obvious advantage over the platen type in being continuous in operation, its history in 'the'art'is not one 'of success. From time to time since its introductiomattempted improvements have been made in'its design and construction and felt manufacturers have eagerly installed theimproved roller machines only to find that the problem of satisfactory operation has not been solved and to abandon the new roller machines for the old intermittent operating platen machines, or at best to use the roller machines only as as adjunct to the platen machine.

' Among the most serious difiiculties that have been encountered in the use of roller hardener machines for yardage felts in the past have been the uneven quality of felt produced, the failure to accomplish sufiicient hardening in one run and the attendant necessity of running the felt through the hardener several times, inability to harden more than one batt at a time, and maintenance problems generally caused by excessive vibration resulting in wear of the operating parts such as the rollers thus exaggerating the defect of producing yardage felt of uneven quality.

In general it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a felt roller hardener machine for yardage felts in which the above mentioned disadvantages and defects are overcome and to provide a practical felt roller hardener machine which is capable of producing a product of even'quality' in a continuous manner at a high rate of production and which'is designed to minimize operating and maintenance difliculties. I I y More specifically among the objects and advantages of this invention are:

To provide aroller hardener machine which is capable of increased hardening efficiency over the felt hardeners of the prior art; v

To provide a roller hardener machine in which full width batts can be successfully hardened by the machine at a greatly increased speed over those of the prior art;

To provide a roller hardener machine through which a plurality of separate batts can be passed and successfully hardened simultaneously;

To provide a roller hardener machine in which adjustments may be readily made for the satisfactory hardening of batts of varying thicknesses and of different kinds of fibres;

To provide a roller hardener machine together with driving means therefor and prime movers connected to said driving means designed as a unitary structure of efficient arrangement and readily adaptable to be connected to additional unitary structures of the same type;

To provide a roller hardener machine in which the batt to be hardened is conveyed by means of endless conveyor aprons or otherwise through a set of rollersp'eaichiset comprisingca "plurality of upper rollers and -a plurality of *lower rollers and has pressure applied to it by pneumatic or hydraulic force operating vertically on the lower rollers in an upward direction;

To provide a roller hardener machine in*which the upper rollers move in a reciprocatingmanner in a direction parallel to their:axesvandrin'which said rollers are positively locked againstranymiotion in any other directionexceptrota'tion about their respective axes;

To provide a roller hardener mach-ineinwhich the rollers are incapable of rocking; F

To provide a roller hardener machine inwvhich the upper rollers are locked against vertical displacement;

To provide atrollerhardener-machine iii-which the upper. rollers'reciprocate tin-a direction-par- =al1elto their :axesat eagrelatively high-speed and in' which there is 'included imean's insulating the :rest of the 'machineffrom ithe vibratoryaeifect of s'aid reciprocations;

"To provide *a roller-hardener :machine :in which the upper rollers iareriree'to i-revolve about their respective. axes and-to reciprocate "rapidly .in a "direction parallel to their axes and iniwhich-pairs of said .upper'rollers are elastically coupled'to equivalent :masses Eforming mechanically -bal- "anced icompensating systems for absorbingithe vibr'ations caused by said reciprocations;

"'Ioiprov'ide a roller hardener machine in :which the upper rollersxaregfree to irevolve-abouttheir respective axeszand rreciprocate rapid-1y linea direction parallelto their-:axesrand inwhich pairs of said "upper :rollers are elastically coupled to :equivalent masses forming; mechanically .balance'dicompensating systems, :the: relative positi'onsof Tsaidimassesibeing such that they counterbalarice each ;other;

:"120 zproviderin ra roller hardener machine an elas'tically icoupled: compensating systemato :abisorb vibrationscaused-fbythe --reciprocation of the rollers which is imountedonthe base of the machine 'in an improved .manner;

tToaprovide in a ;.roller= hardener machine {an felasticaliyrcoupled compensating system to ab- -sorb vibrations :caused :by the reciprocation :of thecrollersltin which the --period of vibration of said system is readily adjustable for various speeds ofreciprocation;

To provide a roller hardenerimachinein which the-upper :rollers are free .to revolve about "their respective faxes and "which. includes means for reciprocating, said. rollers in a direction :parallel .to their axes and in which the lower rollersare "driven to'move'conveyor'aprons but cannot-move 'in a directiomparallielto their axes;

To provide aroller hardener machine in whi'ch the reciprocatory motion of adjacent upper rollers parallel to their axes is 1180 :out iorph'a'se;

To iprovide in a roller hardeniri'g unachirieI-improved 'me'ansfor jointly and'i selectively varying the1pressure applied -to1the bathe-the amplitude of .the reciprocatory:motion oft-he upperrollers parallel to their axes, therspeed of -saidreciprocation of the upperrrollers, andthe-speedaofro- ';tation of the lower rollers.driving .-the conveyor ;.aprons;

To;provide rollers in :a roller hardener-;ma-

proved circumferential grooves for efllciently gripping the conveyor aprons and thus for efl'iciently and positively transmitting all motions of the rollers through the conveyor aprons to the felt batt;

To provide in 'a felt iio'ller thard'ener :machine driving means of improved design to drive the Various moving parts of the machine in an efli- ;cient and positive manner, to permit variation .40 ..of the speeds of travel of said various moving 'parts and toprotect the driving motors or other plprimetmovers irommechanical shocks and detri- .:mental overloading;

-m'eansfimproved=means for controlling the ac- ;celeration.and deceleration of said machine during the starting and stopping periods respectively.

These and other features and objects of the inv ntion will ,lbe best :understood and vappreciated from the following fdescriptionzof a-preiferrediembodiment thereof selected for purposes -of;-illustration and. shown :in the accompanying "drawings.

The inventionaccordingly-consists inthe features .of construction, combination of elements and arrangement .of parts: as will 'be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and the-scope of the applicationof which will be indicated inthe following claims.

In theaccompa-nying drawings:

Fig.1 is a; plan view .of a machine embodying the inventionshowing a portion of the feeding and receiving tables;

Fig;-.:2=is an-elevationrof .the machine of- Fig. :1 viewedefromthe -reeeiving end with a modification .in. th-er;-arrangement of the motors for the areciprocatingvdri-ve;

Fig. 3 is a cross-l-sectional view on the line 3--3 =ofjFig. 2 looking in the direction of the -arrows;

Fig.4 is across-sectionalrview on the line 4-4 .of Fig. 2-looking in the-.direction of thearrows with pertain-partsrcut away;

.Fig.-5.-is a cross-sectionalview on. the line 5-5 of FigAlooking inthe direction of the-arrows;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction; of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic showing of the lower rollers adapted to be used in the machine of Fig. .landsuitable means for driving the same;

Fig. 8 is a ,fragmentarysection on an enlarged scale cut longitudinally through :one of the .rollers;

.Fig. Bisan elevation showing the oscillating yoke .with .compensatingsprings and weight attachedtheretoior the embodimentof Fig. vv1;

Fig. isa .=detai1 showing of one of. the com pensating springs of Fig. :9 and. its :connections to .theyoke. andcompensating weight; I

.Fig. lliis across section .onithe line I.I'l of Fig. 9 {looking ,in .the. direction .of 1 the ..-arr.ows; and

Fig... 121s a schematic. drawing showing an .ar.- :ra-ngement .oithe. machine of Fig. .1. in combina- ,tion with parts used to ..'.handle ,the. materialset up for one mode of operation.

-Essentially...themachine.is made up. of one or morevunitsiof upper 20 .andlower 1| .rollersibe- .tween. whichathe materiallto behardenedis fed. .Inithe embodiment shown the drawings, as .may readily :be seernfrom Figs..1 and 2, themachine. comprises two units each vo'fwhich has four upper and five lower rollers. It. is v.to .be under- .ichine whichphave specially designed and *sim- 7 lstoodahowevengthat -the4machine may comprise but one unit or as many units as is desired for the circumstances under which it is used. It is advantageous, however, for some aspects of the invention that each unit comprise an even number of pairs of upper rollers, that is, a minimum of nine rollers.

The frame 22 of the machine is firmly mounted on substantial foundations 23 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 and, as shown in Fig. 1, has mounted adjacent to it a feeding table 24 and a receiving table 25. The various prime movers, clutches, brakes and other driving mechanisms all of which will be described more in detail hereinbelow may be mounted on separate foundations or, if desired, upon a foundation or base made integral with that for the main part of the machine.

The housings 2B for the bearings for upper rollers are mounted on frame 22 by means of bearing blocks 21. As is shown in Fig. 1, the shafts 28 of upper rollers 20 extend at one of their ends beyond bearing housings 26 into thrust bearings enclosed in thrust bearing housings 23 which, as is more fully described hereinbelow, impart a reciprocating longitudinal motion to the upper rollers 20 to which they are connected. Thrust bearing housings 23 are arranged so that the ones for alternate upper rollers 20 are on the same side of frame 22.

As is most readily seen in Figs. 4 and 5 bearings 30 for shafts 3| of lower rollers 2| are mounted in yokes 32 which are moveable in an up and down direction .by piston rods 33 attached to pistons 34 of pneumatic cylinders 35 in a manner to be described hereinbelow. Lower rollers 2| are rotated about their respective axes by common driving means which may be a series of belts or chains 36 as is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7, driven from a shaft 31 in turn driven by a motor or other prime mover 33. It is to be understood that any driving arrangement which drives all of lower rollers 2| in the same direction and at the same speeds may be substituted for the arrangement shown in Fig. 7. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, one of the receiving table rollers 39 is mounted on shaft 31.

The material F to be hardened passes between the sets of upper rollers 20 and lower rollers 2| in a direction from, say left to right, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 12 and right to left as viewed in Fig. 4. Material F is carried on a conveyor apron B which passes through the machine and between the upper and lower rollers. In some instances it may be desirable to run the material F through the machine between two conveyor aprons, an upper apron and a lower apron. As has been previously stated one of the essential operations on the material to harden it is to exert ressure on it. The means for accomplishing this in the embodiment of the invention herein described is best shown in relation to Figs. 4 and 5. Each shaft 3| of lower rollers 2| is rotatably held in a bearing 30 which in turn is mounted in a yoke 32. Yokes 32 are free to slide up and down but are prevented from any lateral motion by guides 40 which are machined to receive and permit slidable motion of the opposite edges of yokes 32 and which are cast integrally with or otherwise firmly attached to upper roller bearing block 2?. Pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders 35 mounted on upper roller bearing block 21 are connected by any suitable means such as by inlet connection 4| to a source (not shown) of fluid under relatively high pressure. Preferably the pressure of the fluid may be regulated. Pneumatic pistons 34 are slideably mounted in cylinders 35 forming pressure chambers below the pistons. tached to piston rods 33 which extend through properly packed apertures in the bottom of cylinders 35 provided for that purpose. Yokes 32 are connected respectively to the other ends of piston rods 33. It is obvious from the above description that when the fluid pressure in pressure chambers 42 is increased pistons 34, piston rods 33, yokes 32 and shafts 3| of lower rollers 2| are urged upward with the result, since upper rollers 20, although free to oscillate longitudinally and to rotate, are otherwise fixed, the pressure on material F between upper rollers 20 and lower rollers 2| is increased.

The mechanism and arrangement of parts to cause upper rollers 20 to oscillate along their re spective axes is most readily described with relation to Figs. 1, 2 and 6. Referring specifically to Fig. 1, a motor or other suitable prime mover 43 drives, through chain or belt 44, hydraulic coupling 45, gear assembly 46 and chain or belt 43, shaft 48. Rotatably mounted on shaft 48 is eccentric crank 49 which translates the rotary motion of shaft 48 to a reciprocatory motion given oscillating yoke 50 to which it is pivoted as is more clearly shown in Figs; 9 and 11 and as will be described in more detail hereinbelow. Each oscillating yoke 53 is attached to or may be made integral with a thrust bearing housing 29 for the shafts 28 of a pair of upper rollers 20 which are disposed in an alternate manner with other upper rollers 20. Thus as is shown in Fig. 1, for a unit comprising four upper rollers 20, one yoke 50 oscillates or reciprocates the second and fourth upper rollers 20 and a second yoke 5| oscillates or reciprocates the first and third upper rollers 20, all reading from the left to right. Oscillating yoke 5| may be driven by motor 43 through chain or belt 44, hydraulic coupling 45, gear assembly 46, shaft 52 coupled at each end by flexible couplings 53 and passing to the other side of the machine, gear assembly 54, transmission belt or chain 55, eccentric shaft 56. and eccentric crank 51. Since it is desired to have adjacent pairs of upper rollers 20 of a unit oscillate 180 out of phase, there is an advantage from the standpoint of regulation to drive each pair from a common source of power. However, in some instances it may prove more advantageous to drive each pair separately as by a second motor 58, as shown in the modification of Fig. 2, and to provide regulating means to keep the reciproca tion of each pair 180 out of phase. Mounted on eccentric shafts 48 and 56 is a conventional magnetic brake 53 the function of which will be explained hereinbelow where the mode of operation of the machine is described.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 11 it may be seen that eccentric cranks 49 and 51 pass through apertures 60 in compensating weights 6| which are mounted on base 23 by means of resilient supports 62. Supports 62 may be made of strips of Micarta or any other suitable material of sufiicient compressive strength to support a weight 6|. They maybe attached to weight 6| in any suitable manner as by. brackets 63, 64. Oscillator yokes 53 and 5| are primarily of a generally circular shape but have two horizontally diametrically opposed generally circular ear-like portions each adapted to be attached to or cast integral with a thrust bearing housing 29 as may most readily be seen in Fig. 11. Generally centrally located in oscillating yokes 50 and 5| therev is positioned a lug 66 extending Pistons 34 are each respectively at--- from the-face the main portion of yok'es .50. and '51- back in: the direction of compensating weights 61. A. bearing pin 61 is held. in place in. each lug 66 and preferably a metal. sheathed rubber or other type of resilient bushing 68 is fitted around each bearing pin 61 to form a bearing. within an aperture 69 formed near the end:

of. eccentric cranks 49 and. 51 for that purpose.

Studs Idarezformed on each oscillating yoke.

50 and f near the peripheryof. the same and arranged with their center on a circular circumferencet Similar studs H are formed on. the f-ace of each. compensating weight 6 l which faces itsrespective oscillating yoke 50 and. 5| and. each is in line with a stud. :10- The purpose of studs It and 1.1 asi'siishown in Fig- 10 .is to support the series-of compensating compression springs 'l-ziiorseach oscillator'yok'e 50 or 5|. The weight. of weights 6!. :and' the number: and stiffness of springs 12 are chosen with. respect to the weight of. a pair of upper rollers 20 and the speed of their reciprocation to constitute a mechanically balanced compensating system which when the machine is in operation will be 180 out of phase with the reciprocation of its respective pair of upper rollers.

Referring to Fig. 5 itcmay be seen that one end of each shaft- 28 of upper rollers 20 extends through an upper roller bearing housing 26, which as above stated ismounted upon bearing block 21, and terminates in its respective thrust bearing housing 29'. Bearing housings 28 enclose a bearing which has a number of ball races 13 held in suitable ball race guide 14. The balls of races 13 bear 'upon'bearing surface 15 keyed to hearing housing 26 and bearing sleeve 16 free to-revolve on shaft 28. These bearings are thus designed to permit with a minimum of friction longitudinal movement as well as rotation of shafts 28. Thrust bearing housings 29 enclose bearings designed to permit free rotation of shaft 28. They comprise two sets of shock mounted rollers 11 which are of frusto-conical shape'and which bear upon bearing surfaces 18 fixed to housings 29 and bearing surfaces 19 keyed to shaft's'28. Lock nuts 80 are threaded on the end of shafts 2'8 tohold the thrust bearing assemblies in place.

Further reference to Fig. 5 shows the mounting of pneumatic cylinders 35 on bearing blocks 21 and shows shafts 3| of lower rollers 2! extending through 'yokes 32 and having mounted on their'ends gears or wheels 8| for'the reception of driving chains or belts 36 arranged as shown in'Fig'. 7.

Aswas stated above the weight of compensating weights 6| and'the number and stiffness of springs 12 are chosen'with respect to the weight and speed of reciprocatory motion of a pair of upper rollers to constitute a mechanically balanced compensating'system 180 out of phase with the reciprocation of its rollers so that a minimum of vibration is transmitted from rollers 20 to frame 22 and other parts of the machine. When'the'speed of reciprocation of upper rollers 20 is changed, the natural period of vibration of the compensatin systems comprising weights 6! and springs 12 must be changed. This can be accomplished by arranging springs 12 so that one or more of them may be readily removed. is shown in Figs. '9 and I1, eight springs 12 may be used and, as shown in Fig. 10, any .of the eight may be readily removed by unscrewing respective stud 'w-onoscillator yoke 50 andremoving the spring. The actual number of springs 12 used for each oscillator-yoke on a particular machine is not. critical but should be chosen so that the removal of one or more alters the natural period of the compensating system to correspond to. the desired and predetermined reduced speeds of reciprocation of. upper rollers. 20. However, the number of springs 12 for each oscillator yoke 50 or 5|. should be suificient so that several of them can be removed without having an arc of over about between any of the remaining springs.

Hydraulic couplings 45 are-interposed in the driving train between. motors 43 and eccentric cranks 49 or 51 to prevent any momentary shock and resultant injury to motors 43 particularly during the periods of starting and stopping the machine.

' When the. machineisin. operation and motors 43 are started. the reciprocation of upper rollers 20. will not come up" to full speed immediately. During this period and up through the resonant point of the springs, insteadof out of phase with the reciprocating system, the compensating masses stay in phase with the motion of the rollers. Under short strokes theacceleration period is so brief that no difficulty is experienced in passing through this resonant period. At longer strokes it is sometimes necessary to hold the weights in some manner until the rollers have reached full speed and then to release them. The compensating masses immediately take the opposite and compensating stroke to the rollers. When motors 63 are stopped, however, the mass of the pairs of upper rollers 29 is so great that it takes an appreciable length of time for them to stop reciprocating. During this time of deceleration, the system passes through the resonant period of the springs, at which point the load forces are at a maximum. Any prolonged period of this excessive vibration could result in damage to the machine. To prevent this, magnetic brakes 59 are mounted on shafts 48 and 56 and arranged to become operative when m0- tors 43 are shut off in order to hasten the deceleration of the machine and thus cut down the length of time of the inresonance period to a minimum.

Adjustments in the speed of rotation of lower rollers 2| are accomplished by adjusting the speed of motor 38 or other prime mover used for this purpose. Adjustments in the speed of reciprocation of upper rollers 20 may be accomplished by adjusting the speed of motors 43,, the gear ratios of gear assemblies 46 and 54 or the ratio of the sprocket wheels or pulley for chain or belt drives 41 and 55.

The amplitude of the. reciprocation of upper rollers 20 is dependent upon the throw of eccentrics 49 and 5'! and, therefore, may be adjusted by changing the throw of those eccentrics or replacing them by other, eccentrics having the desired throw.

The pressure exerted on the material F may be varied, as explained above, by changing the pres.- sure of the fluid introduced into pressure chambers 42. An increase in pressure of this fluid increases the pressure on the material F. It. is further possible by proper connections and reducing valves (not shown) in a multiple unit machine to apply a different pressure on the material F whenpassingbetween the rollers of one unit than when passin between the rollers of the other units.

In Order p prons B or material F posi-- tively and totransmiteificiently to the material F the reciprocatory motion of upper rollers 28, both upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2| have circumferential grooves cut in them. These grooves may be of the same shape for upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2| and are shown at 82 in Fig. 8 for, by way of example, an upper roller 28. They may be milled or formed in any other suitable manner on the rollers but it is essential that the edges 83 formed at the surface of the rollers by the grooves be sharp in order to grip the apron B or material F in a positive and emcient manner.

The mode of operation of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention is best described by reference to Fig. 12. In the example represented by this figure two batts are hardened at the same time, but it is to be understood that the machine may also be operated with only one batt or with a larger number of batts than two such as six to eight. Further in'the example represented by Fig. 12 only one apron B is used although, as stated above, in some instances it will be found desirable to use an apron both above and under the material F.

Apron B is a continuous apron which may be of any suitable material such as canvas r burlap which presents a sufiiciently rough surface to cause the batt to cling to it. Apron B passes around roller 84, over series of feed table rollers 85, under roller 86, over another series of feed table rollers 81, between upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2|, over receiving table rollers 39, around roller 88 and back to roller 84. Power is applied to one or more receiving table rollers 39 and to lower rollers 2| as explained above. Rollers 84, 85, 81, 2|, 39 and 88 all rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12. Roller 86 and upper rollers 28 rotate in a counter-.

clockwise direction as viewed in that figure. No direct power is applied to upper rollers 28, their rotation being caused by frictional drive from contact with the material F or an upper apron, if used. When necessary there may be added in any convenient place adjustable take-up r011- ers (not shown) to overcome any stretching of apron B. The same result may be accomplished by having either roller 84 or roller 88 mounted in its respective bearing so that it may be moved lengthwise of the machine so that the path of travel of apron B may be shortened or lengthened as desired.

One batt of the material F wound on a roll 89 is placed on apron B on feeding table 24 properly arranged and aligned so that the material will be unwound and travel along with apron B as it passes between upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2|. The second batt of the material F wound on a roll 98 is also placed on apronB on feeding table 24 properly arranged and aligned so that the material will be unwound and will pass between upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2|. Roll 9| carrying a separator cloth S is placed on apron B between rolls'89 and 98 so that the separator cloth unwinds and is carried along on top of the material F that was wound on roll 89. After passing roll 98 there are now on feed table 24 several layers which from the bottom to the top are apron B, materialF from roll 89, separator S and material, F from roll 98. They pass between upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2| in this arrangement.

Situated conveniently and built into feed table 24 in any desired manner is a steam bath 92. The above described layers are pulled through bath 92 by reason of roller 86 which is depressed below the surface of feed table 24. Steam bath 92 may take any desired form into which steam is brought into contact with the material F.

After passing through steam bath 92 the layers travel over rollers 81 on feed table 24 and finally enter the main portion of the machine being drawn between upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2|. It is to be noted that since the axes of upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2| are not in the same vertical planes that the layers in passing between them follow a wavy or sinuous path. When a machine comprises several units as in the embodiment described herein the above described layers pass from the first unit to the second and so on until they emerge on receiving table 25.

Receiving table 25 is quipped with rollers 39 over which apron B and the layers it carries are passed. Several wind-up rolls are placed on receiving table 25. In the present example roll 93, placed closest to the main part of the machine is arranged to wind up material F, now hardened, from feed roll 9|, roll 94 is arranged to wind up separator S and roll 95 is arranged to wind up material F, now hardened, from feed roll 89. Apron B as above stated, continues on around roller 88.

In the embodiment discussed above two batts of material are hardened at the same time. Should it be desired to harden more than two batts at the same time, additional feed rolls carrying batts and similar to rolls 89 and 98 are placed on feed table 24 with a roll for a separator cloth between each. Similar provision of additional wind-up rolls is made on receiving table 25.. The important consideration 'is that the layers passing between upper rollers 28 and lower rollers 2| from the bottom up are apron, material, separator, material, and so on with a top apron, if used, on top.

We claim:

1. A felt hardening machine including the combination of a frame, a plurality of upper rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, a plurality of lower rollers adjustably mounted on said frame, at least one moveable apron disposed to carry the material to be hardened between said upper rollers and said lower rollers, power operated means for rotating said lower rollers whereby said apron or aprons and the material carried thereby is moved through said machine, means for exerting pressure on said material comprising fluid pressure operated means mounted on said frame for raising said lower rollers toward said upper rollers, means for reciprocating said upper rollers in a direction along their respective longitudinal axes comprising reciprocating driving means, a yoke connecting each of said driving means to a pair of upper rollers alternately spaced with respect to the rollers of another such pair, the driving means and yokes for adjacent upper rollers disposed on opposite sides of said machine, means in said driving means for moving said adjacent upper rollers in opposite directions at all times, and vibration damping means for each pair of said upper rollers said vibration damping means for adjacent upper rollers disposed on opposite sides of said machine.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which both the upper rollers and the lower rollers have circumferential grooves forming sharp shoulders for gripping said apron or aprons and for transmitting the reciprocatory motion of said upper er to t e mater al o be hardened.

3. a felt hardening machine including the combination of a frame, a plurality of upper rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, a plurality of lower rollers adjustably mounted on said frame, at least one moveable apron disposed to carry the material to be hardened between said upper rollers and said lower rollers, power operated means for rotating said lower rollers whereby said apron or aprons and the material carried thereby is moved through said machine, means for exerting pressure on said material comprising fluid pressure operated means mounted on said frame for raising said lower rollers toward said upper rollers, means for reciprocating said upper rollers in a direction along their respective longitudinal axes comprising reciprocating driving means, a yoke connecting each of said driving means to a pair of upper rollers alternately spaced with respect to the rollers of another such pair, the driving means and yokes for adjacent upper rollers disposed on opposite sides of said machine, means in said driving means for moving said adjacent upper rollers in opposite directions at all times, and vibration damping means for each pair of said upper rollers said vibration damping means each comprising a compensating Weight resiliently mounted on said frame and resiliently attached to one of said yokes, said vibration damping means for adjacent upper rollers disposed on opposite sides of said machine.

4. A felt hardening machine including the combination of .a frame, a plurality of upper rollers each adapted to rotate in a pair of bearings mounted on said frame, a plurality of lower rollers each adapted to rotate in a pair of bearings adjustably attached to said frame, at least one moveable apron disposed to carry the mate'- rial to be hardened between said upper rollers and said lower rollers, power operated means for rotating said lower rollers in their respective bearings whereby said apron or aprons and the material to be hardened is moved through said machine, means for exerting pressure on said material comprising fluid pressure operated means mounted on said frame for raising said bearings and lower rollers toward said upper rollers, means for reciprocating said upper rollers in a direction along their respective longitudinal axes, and in a manner so that adjacently spaced upper rollers always travel in opposite directions, said last mentioned means including cranks and yokes, each of said cranks being pivotally attached to a yoke and each of said yokes being fixedly attached to a pair of thrust bearings for an alternately spaced pair of upper rollers, the crank and yoke for adjacent upper rollers being positioned on opposite sides of said machine, and independent vibration damping means associated with each pair of upper rollers each of which means comprises a compensating weight resiliently mounted on said frame and resiliently attached to the yoke for said respective pair of upper rollers.

5. A felt hardening machine including the combination of a frame, a plurality of upper rollers rotatably mounted on said frame. a plurality of lower rollers adjustably mounted on said frame, at least one moveable apron disposed to carry the material to be hardened between said upper rollers and said lower rollers, power operated means for rotating said lower rollers whereby said apron or aprons and the material means for exerting pressure on said material comprising fluid ressure operated means mounted on said frame for raising said lower rollers toward said upper rollers, power operated means for reciprocating said upper rollers in a direction along their respective longitudinal axes comprising reciprocating driving means, a yoke connecting each of said driving means to a pair of upper rollers alternately spaced with respect to the rollers of another such pair, the driving means and yokes for adjacent upper rollers disposed on opposite sides of said machine, means in said driving means for moving said adjacent upper rollers in opposite directions at all times, hydraulic coupling means associated with said driving means and vibration damping means for each pair of said uppe'r rollers said vibration damping means for adjacent upper rollers disposed on opposite sides of said machine.

6-. A felt hardening machine including the combination of a plurality of upper rollers, a plurality of lower rollers, power means for rotating said lower rollers, at least one apron disposed to carry the material to be hardened between said upper rollers and said lower rollers, means for reciprocating said upper rollers in a direction along their respective longitudinal axes so that adjacent upper rollers are always travelling in opposite directions, means for preventing the transmission of shock between said upper rollers and said reciprocating means, and means associated with said reciprocating means arranged to absorb horizontal forces, thrusts and vibrations whereby vibration caused by the reci'pro'oation o'f said upper rollers is prevented from being transmitted to other parts of the machine.

7. A felt hardening machine including the combination of a frame, a plurality of upper rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, a plurality of lower rollers adjustably mounted on said frame, at least one moveable apron disposed to carry the material to be hardened between said upper rollers and said lower rollers, power operated means for rotating said lower rollers whereby said apron or aprons and the material carried thereby is moved through said machine, means for exerting pressure on said material comprising fluid pressure operated means mounted on said frame for raising said lower rollers toward said upper rollers, shock resistant driving means for reciprocating said upper rollers in a direction along their respective longitudinal axes comprising reciprocating driving means; a yoke connecting each of said driving means to a pair of upper rollers alternately spaced with respectto the rollersv of. another such pair, the driving means and yokes foradjacent upper rollers disposed on oppositesidesof said machine, means in said. driving means for moving said adjacent upper rollers in opposite directions at all times, and vibration damping means for each pair of said upper rollers-said vibration damping means each comprising a compensating weight resiliently 'mounted'on saidframe and resiliently attached to one of: said yokes, said vibration damping means for adjacent: upper rollers:'di'sposed on opposite sides'of said machine.

-8. A felt hardening machine including: the combination of a frame, a plurality of upper rollers rotatably mounted on said-frame, aplurality of lower rollersadjustably mounted on'said frame, at least one moveableapron disposed to carry the material to be hardened between said 'upper rollers and said lower rollers, power oper- 13 carried thereby is moved through said machine, means for exerting pressure on said material comprising fiuid pressure operated means mounted on said frame for raising said lower rollers toward said upper rollers, shock resistant driving means for reciprocating said upper rollers in a direction along their respective longitudinal axes comprising reciprocating driving means, a yoke connecting each of said driving means to a pair of upper rollers alternately spaced with respect to the rollers of another such pair, the driving means and yokes for adjacent upper rollers disposed on opposite sides of said machine, means in said driving means for moving said adjacent upper rollers in opposite directions at all times, braking means for said reciprocating driving means and vibration damping means for each pair of said upper rollers said vibration damping means each comprising a compensating weight resiliently mounted on said frame and resiliently attached to one of said yokes, said vibration damping means for adjacent upper rollers disposed on opposite sides of said machine.

9. A combination of claim 8 in which said braking means comprises a magnetically operated brake.

HUGO P. BOEDDINGHAUS. BELA FREY ER. GILBERT J. SAWFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

